Thursday 29th May was a significant day for Deborah Hamflett of Stanley, at 12.10am she passed her driving test with the help of Derwentside Employment Team.
Deborah mother of three had never been able to find the additional funds to pay for driving lessons but found that she was unable to apply for number of suitable jobs because she couldn’t drive.
It was through the DET website that Deborah found out about the Team, and it was after meeting Darren Graham a DET Adviser that a case was put forward to pay for Deborah to have a series of driving lessons. Michael Aston, a local Driving Instructor who was also helped by DET to set up his Driving School was chosen for the job.
Deborah complemented “Michael was excellent, he really instilled confidence in me, making me drive around Newcastle on one occasion to prove how good I was”
Deborah had become depressed and had really low self esteem whilst out of work “I started to feel worthless and began to question my abilities”. The driving lessons became a focus for Deborah whilst looking for work but it was only 1 month later that she secured the perfect job, “I could’ve cried when I got it”
On the 1st July Deborah started a job with the Children and Young Peoples Services at Stanley Education Centre and is really enjoying it.
DET also helped with clothes for interviews but it was the moral support that Deborah found the most beneficial “It was so important to have someone on the other end of the phone particularly when I had been unsuccessful in interviews”, Deborah added “There were times when I was devastated but sometimes hearing someone else’s perspective helps you refocus and maintain your momentum, the team always had time for me and that was crucial”
Deborah who is now supporting one of her daughters through University is not really feeling the financial benefits but says she has a new found independence and that is more important”.
Life after graduation
Like many other graduates I found it extremely difficult gaining employment so by the time I discovered Derwentside Employment Team my self esteem had plummeted and I had began to question why I had put myself through college and university, saddling myself with a student loan that was accruing interest and I had no means by which to repay. My days were spent trawling online job sites such as Sector1 and Jobcentreplus and all the processes involved in applying for jobs to such an extent that it became a mundane task.
Derwentside Empoyment team helped to put me back on track and I have a lot to thank them for. It was not just basic advice, such as completing application forms and recognising my skills that they helped me with but more importantly they were there to support me each and every time I failed to gain employment; there was always someone at the end of the phone to LISTEN to my woes, nothing was too much trouble, and their kind words, not just advice, picked me up again.
Knowing that I had an enthusiastic team behind me gave me back my confidence and when I subsequently passed my driving test and gained employment in the same month it was the culmination of a team effort and I thank DET for that.
Deb Hamflett